ENGLAND v WEST INDIES 1995

Toss: West Indies. International debuts: A. P. Wells; O. D. Gibson.

Atherton had just missed his maiden one-day international hundred at The Oval; here he played a triumphant, series-clinching 127, striking 14 fours in 160 balls and lifting Bishop for six. Though England's selectors had once judged him unsuited to limited-overs cricket, he passed 1,000 runs in his 25th game at an average of 46.43. He had to weather early difficulties, when Richardson put England in for the third time, on a damp and lively pitch. It look Atherton 27 balls to get off the mark. But though his first 50 occupied 96 balls, his second needed only 48 and the rest 16.

His team-mates were reduced to supporting roles and Wells, making his England debut at 33, had to walk out for a ten-minute thrash after Atherton finally departed to a standing ovation. Set to score just over five an over, none of the West Indians could play the major innings required. Hooper batted for 34 overs before becoming Cork's third victim, but no one else reached 40 and they were all out with more than six overs left.